If you are skiing a half-day at Whiteface, off to a quick snowshoe/backcountry ski or enjoying another of Lake Placids winter activities, take a quick stop by the Lake Placid North Elba Show Grounds this weekend for the annual Lake Placid Snow Pull. It's free to watch. For anyone unfamiliar with a dog pull, the objective is to see how much weight each animal can pull while tethered to a sled or cart along a 16' corridor in one minute.

We recently attended our first dog pull. The children cheered for their favorites and commented how eager the dogs were to get clipped to the carts. We noticed some dogs pull by jumping while others plod along. We also saw that if a dog didn't want to pull the weight, it didn't. Ah, just like my Golden girlie-girl. These dogs know their limit.

The owner (handler) stands at the end of the shoot and is allowed to encourage the animal, though no physical contact is permitted. With each round completed more weight is added to the sled. An animal can win one of two ways; by how much weight pulled or by which animal pulled the most times its body weight. The larger animals have been known to pull up to the 4,000 lb limit.

According to the rules the sleds have to be able to hold 4,000 lbs. 

 The amount the dogs pull varies. 
For example, in September one dog won the 40 lb. class by pulling 1,280 lbs. or 45% of his body weight. That dog weighed in at 28 lbs. That pull started at 400 lbs., which included the 400 lb. cart and went up in increments of 200 lbs. The largest dog in the Unlimited Class (weight 171 lbs.) pulled 3,400 lbs. but it was only 9.88% of its body weight. That pull started at 800 lbs., which included the 400 lb. carts and went up in increments of 200lbs. 

The starting weight is agreed upon at the event.

Our dog was strictly ornamental. She looked pretty and could eat whether she was hungry or not. The family's desires of owning a retriever were dashed when our dog outsmarted us and taught us how to fetch. The chances of getting a cart strapped on her back and helping move anything were nil. My kids attempted to have her pull them in a sled but found the dog more often than not preferred being the one pulled. Our golden would allow us to Velcro a doggie pack on her for hiking though shimmy out of it just to remind us who was in charge. In her youth she would roll in the mud to get the pack off that only carried her own food.

The Lake Placid Snow Pull will take place at the Lake Placid North Elba Show Grounds. The best time to observe the pull is between 11:00 a.m. - 2:00p.m. on January 14, Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. -noon January 15, Sunday. Enjoy your fun day in the snow whether you are skiing, snowshoeing or just out of a wonderful walk! 

all photos and content © Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Time. Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Time guidebook series and co-owner of the the young adult wilderness adventure program, Adirondack Outdoor Expeditions.